The Big Man and I both worked today, but we still managed to have an awesome day with Max and squeezed in plenty of celebrating.

We started the day off super early (5am early) so that we could open his presents. Although Max did insist on having his morning bottle first. This kid has his priorities set in concrete!!

After the bottle was done and dusted the Big Man helped Max open his first present. It was a truck, one of Max's favourite things at the moment. He seemed to really enjoy pulling at the wrapping paper and finding out what was under it. His reaction when he realised it was a truck was way too cute.

After work/daycare the Big Man and I took Max to sizzler for his birthay ('coz we're all class in this family!) and he loved that too. I loaded his plate up with all sorts of yummy foods and tried to sneak in a few things he hadn't tried yet like broccoli and mushrooms. He decided that he liked the potato salad and cheese bread best.

After dinner I gave him a tiny bowl of ice-cream. Check out the video if you want to see my baby on a sugar high! He sure did love it :)

...

On Saturday we're having his first birthday party, so hopefully he will have another fun day with just as many smiles!

Last week I took Max over to my friend Nat's place for a play date with Baby Kate. Normally when I take Max around there he is tired and cranky from a busy week of catching up with my Hervey Bay friends and family and he just sits on the floor and cries when Kate comes near him. Not this time! I fed him lunch as soon as we got there and then he was super happy to play.

They did a lot of alongside playing, but they also interacted quite a bit. They even gave each other a couple of kisses. It was so sweet!

Kate is walking already and I was hoping that she might inspire Max to give it a go, but he just crawled around after her. He's a champion stander, but shows no interest in walking!

It was really nice to see them happily playing for the first time without bucket loads of tears :)

After a couple of hours we put them both down for a nap so that we could have a grown-up catch up and lots of snuggles with little Emily.

This week I'm on annual leave from work and Max & I are up in Hervey Bay. I booked the time in so that I could spend time with my sister and her new baby girl. I'm also loving catching up with all my Hervey Bay friends and family.

I'm trying to fit as much as I can into the week that I am up here and we ended up having a huge day on Wednesday.

We started out the day at the local library. Jen had the great idea to take Max to the under 2's reading session. It was called the Rhyme and Rattle class and max absolutely loved it! We sang songs, shook maracas, danced, read a story and did lots of clapping. I loved it as much as Max!

After that I took Max home for a 25 minute power nap before we went out to 2nd Kitchen to have lunch with Cat. Max was on his almost-best behaviour and lunch was delicious. Plus I got to catch up with one of my favourite girlfriends. Good things all round!

Max was absolutely exhausted after lunch so I planned to take him home for a real nap. On the way back to the in-laws (where I am staying this week) I remembered that I promised to take Max into their shop so that the girls could see him. Whilst I was there my brother-in-law asked if I could take him grocery shopping (he doesn't have a licence at the moment). So I did, cos I'm nice like that :)

Next up Jen and I packed our kids (Max, Ava and Emily) and took them out to have a play date with another of my favourite friends and her two gorgeous boys. The three older kids got along beautifully and Max spent the whole time trying to join in with them. When Max wasn't following the kids around he was pressed up against the window 'talking' to Ange's dog. So cute!

Ange has a cake making business (Angel Cake), so we also planned out the cakes for Jen's baby shower. I can't wait to show you the photos, it's going to be gorgeous!!

Max fell asleep in the car almost as soon as we left Ange's and slept the 20 minutes it took as to get back to the in-laws. We tried to bath him, feed him and give him some cuddles before bed, but he wasn't having a bar of it. Poor little baby was exhausted!

Two days later I think he is still playing catch up on his sleep. He's needing three naps a day instead of two :)

Weeks like this where I get to catch up with some of my closest girlfriends, spend the days with my sister and see Max spoilt by family make me really want to move back to the Bay. It wont be happening though... It looks like we are going to be in Brisbane for at least the next five to ten years.